The continued cold weather with below-freezing temperatures pushed Puget Sound Energy’s customer natural gas usage to a new record high Dec. 19, surpassing the one set earlier this week.

PSE has sufficient supplies of electricity and natural gas to meet this week’s exceptional demand. Anticipating this weekend’s high winds and cold temperatures, crews and employees are on alert to respond to any customer electric outages or natural gas emergencies. Read more

The National Weather Service has issued a high wind warning in effect from 9 a.m. Saturday to 4 p.m. Sunday. This warning upgrades the high wind watch, which had been in effect.

Residents and local officials in the warned area should be prepared for widespread damage and power outages that could last for more than a week.

People need to prepare now for major disruption resulting from this windstorm. Be sure to have enough supplies on hand to last for several days should you be stranded at home. By late Saturday morning, it may be too late to prepare.

You can never be too careful in making sure you are prepared for the winter power outages. Depending on how much damage is done by a storm, your power could be out for several hours to several days. Here is a list from the CampSafe Coalition of “must-have” items to ensure that you and your family are safe during those long power outages: Read more

Driving is treacherous, police say

UPDATED — 2:47 p.m. Dec. 18, 2008

Forecasts predict more snow could fall in Issaquah throughout the evening commute. Officials are advising people to stay home, if possible. Those who need to drive should prepare for winter driving conditions throughout the city.

Currently, no roads are closed in Issaquah. If roads are closed at a later time, they will be indicated on this online map.

City crews will focus on clearing Issaquah’s priority routes first, and then address side streets as conditions allow. Get maps of Issaquah’s snow priority routes here.

Drivers who get stuck in snow or ice should not abandon their vehicles in an area that would block traffic. Those vehicles will be towed. Read more

Sabina Gaudiano belts out ‘sleigh,’ the last word of ‘Jingle Bells,’ with Misha Tokumi and Emily Robinson, as their Issaquah Valley Elementary School choir sings for residents Dec. 12 at Áegis Senior Inn of Issaquah. ‘They did such a beautiful job. It just lifts you up,’ resident Bonnie Dauron said after the show. Sixty children in kindergarten through fifth grade, performed in two groups, with their parents bringing refreshments. Photo by By Greg Farrar.